Fuel oil measuring means with dipping trap chamber



FUEL OIL MEASURING MEANS WITH DIPPING TRAP CHAMBER Filed Oct. 2, 1944 H. B. TOWNLEY Oct. 3, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ,WM wmw Hz 7 V. 7 m A W 0 Oct. 3, 1950 H. B. TOWNLEY 2,524,148

FUEL on. MEASURING MEANS WITH DIPPING TRAP CHAMBER Filed Oct. 2, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR,

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Oct. 3, 1950 H. B. TOWNLEY 2,524,148

FUEL on. MEASURING MEANS WITH DIPPING TRAP CHAMBER Filed Oct. 2, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ill. JL

INVENTOR, flowf/vfi 7514 f) d-AMMM Patented Oct. 3, 1950 FUEL OIL MEASURING MEANS WITH DIPPING TRAP CHAMBER Holden B. 'llownley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to Perfection Stove Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,681

7 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to liquid dispensing means, and it has to do more particularly with means for volumetrically feeding liquid. On this account, the invention is peculiarly suited to'the feeding'of liquid fuel to burners of the kind disclosed in Patent 2,247,689, dated July 1, 1941, wherein the desirability of feeding the fuel in measured quantities, especially for low or pilot fire purposes, is clearlyset out.

Among the objects of the present invention is that of providing relatively simple and inexpensive, yet thoroughly reliable and durable means for intermittently feeding, at frequent enough intervals and in such manner that the supply to the burner is substantially constant, accurately measured small amounts of liquid fuel; and a further object is to provide an adjustment that is very convenient of access and manipulation for varying to a minute degreethequantity of fuel fed at each interval.

Although the invention was conceivedand developed in connection with liquid fuel burning apparatus, it is to be understood that the-same is not restricted to such an association. Two-embodiments of the invention, which are intended as illustrative rather than as limiting, are shown in'the accompanying drawings, and while I shall proceed to describe these embodiments in detail, I do not wish to be limited to the details thereof further than is required by the terms of the claims appended hereto.

Objects and advantages additional to those mentioned above will appear as I proceed to'de scribe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of liquid dispensing means incorporating the invention, the section being taken substantially on the line -4 of Fig. 2, said means being here employed as liquid fuel feeding means and the view including a fragment of a burner and a flow retarding means or coil in the connection between the dispensing means and burner; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the liquid dispensing means; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of. said means as though looking from the right of Fig. 1.; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the arm that supports the driving mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view, similar to but somewhat less comprehensive than Fig. 1, showin a modification. of the liquid dispensing means; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section substantially on the line SS of Fig. 5, showing the driving mechanism and its supporting bracket unsecti'oned, and Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the bracket that supports the driving mechanism in the modified form of the invention.

Describing, by the use of reference characters, first that form of the invention illustrated infFigs. 1 to 4, l designatesa receptacle to which liquid fuel is supplied through a conduit Z'from a suitable source (not shown). Admission of the liquid fuel to the receptacle is controlled by a valve? that is seated toshut off the flowby a float. 6 when the float is lifted by an accumulationof liquid fuel in the receptacle to the level. indicatedllby the dot-and-dash line a. The float-is fixed to an arm 'i that is pivoted on a pinv 8, supported- Joya bracket 9, and the end of the arm ,remote from the float bears on the head ID of the'valve.5,be,- tween which head, and a. tubular guide M in which the valve reciprocates, is .a helical spring 12 that surrounds the valve and tends to lift the same from its seat. I

Rising from the bottom wall of the receptacle 1 is an outlet tube [5, the overflow edge iii-of which is a substantial distance above the liquid leve The outlet tube i5 is suitably connected to act nduit i 1 that constitutes a part of the connections between the liquid dispensing 'meansand the burner, and which will hereinafterbe described.

Surrounding the upper portion of the outlet tube [5 .is-a bucket, designated generally by the reference numeral 20, comprising a cylindrical peripheral wall M, an annular bottom wallQ-Z that has a sliding fit on the tube l5, and atop wall 23.- As a convenient way of attachingthe partsof this assembly together, the walls '22 and 23' have circumferential grooves into which the I surrounding portions of the peripheral wall it are depressed, as indicated at 24 and 2.5. The peripheral wall 21 has an opening which provides along its lower edge an overflow lip 21-, Connected to the top wall -23,'desirably by having its loweu end reduced and fitted throughv an aperture in; said wall and upset therebeyond, is a rod 30 thatis guided withinanaperture of a d-isk3l suitably mounted within an opening of a cover 32 that. closes the top of the receptacle I and is shown as secured tothereceptacle by screws 33.

Mounted on the end of the cover 32: nearest the disk 3|, and secured to the cover by screws -34',; is a support or post 35-, shown as of channelfo'jrmation, and desirably constructed of sheet metal;

Extending through aligned apertures in the side.

flanges of the support or post 35, near the top thereof is a pin 36 on which is pivotally supported an arm 38, shown in perspective in Fig. 4. This:

arm, also, is-preierably constructed of sheet metal and for the reception of said pin 36 its body p'or-L tion has an aperture 39' that is in axialalign'ment With a similar aperture for the same purpose in an integral part 45 that is disposed in a plane parallel to that of the body portion of the arm and is connected to said portion by a horizontal part 4|. Said part 4| is provided with a threaded aperture 42. Extended through and free to rotate in an unthreaded aperture in the top 44 of the support or post 35 is an adjusting screw 45 that is threadedly engaged within the previously mentioned aperture 42, so that by turning said screw the arm 38 may be swung on the pin 36. A locking plate 4! is secured to the top of the support or post by a screw 48, and said plate has an aperture somewhat smaller than the head of the screw 45 through which said head partially projects. By tightening the screw 48 and thus depressing the locking plate, the screw 45 may be held against accidental turning or lifting. The edge of the horizontal part 4| beneath the screw 48 is notched to prevent interference with said screw.

Driving mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, and including an electric motor 5| of the clock type, is supported by the arm 38. The connection between the mechanism and arm is conveniently made by means of screws 53 that are projected through holes in marginal lugs of the front plate 54 of said mechanism and ,are screwed into threaded holes in a cross bar 55,

and the cross bar occupying notches 56 in the 'top edge of the arm 38, the screws being turned up tightly to clamp the arm between the front plate 54 and the cross bar 55. Fastened to the driving shaft 58 of the mechanism 50, by means of a screw 59, is a crank 50, on the pin 6| of which is pivoted one end of a link 62, the'opposite end of which is similarly connected to the upper end of the rod 30.

The electric motor 5| is connected in the customary way through wires (not shown) with a source of current. and when the motor is energized, the shaft 58 and consequently the crank '60 will be rotated and will, through the connections provided by the link 62 and the rod 3|], reciprocate the bucket 20 along the outlet tube 5. When the bucket descends sufficiently to of the overflow edge It of the outlet tube I5, the I quantity of liquid above said edge will spill over into the outlet tube, the amount depending upon the distance the lip 21' rises above the plane of the overflow edge of the tube. This quantity may be altered, according to the illustrated embodiments, by changing the elevation of the driving mechanism 50 which, in the form now under consideration, is accomplished by turning the screw 45, thereby to swing the arm 38 on the pin 35. The screw 45 is held against lifting, and in any position of adjustment against accidental turning, by the locking plate 41, as previously mentioned.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing that my invention provides a simple and eflicient means for volumetrically feeding liquid, which is especially suited to the supplying of liquid fuel in measured amounts to combustion apparatus, the adjustment above described providing very accurate measurement of the quantity of liquid fed at each reciprocation of the bucket.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

5 to 7, the driving mechanism 65 is supported by a bracket 66 including a, split sleeve-like portion 61 that embraces and is slidable on a tubular support or post 68 that is fastened to and rises from the cover 69 of a receptacle TI]. The vertical edge of the split sleeve-like portion 61 is turned inwardly to provide a flange 1| that operates in a slot 12 of the post or support 68. The inner edge of the flange H is substantially flush with the inner surface of the post or support 68 excepting at its upper end where said flange is increased in width to provide 2. lug 14 that extends across the bore of the tubular post or support. A compression spring 15 occupies said bore and at its lower end rests upon an abutment 16 which, in the present case, consists of a pin that is projected through aligned holes in the opposite sides of the post. At its upper end the post is internally threaded for the reception of an adjusting screw 18, against the inner end of which the lug 14 is urged by the spring 15, thereby to maintain the bracket 66 in the highest position permitted by the screw 78.

Fastened to the driving shaft of the mechanism 65 is a crank 8| to the pin 82 of which is pivoted the upper end of a link 83. The lower end of said link is similarly connected to a rod 84 that is guided through a central aperture in a disk 85, mounted within an opening of the cover 69. The lower end or the rod 84 is connected to the top 86 of a, bucket designated generally by the reference numeral 81. The peripheral wall 88 of said bucket has one or more openings'89, each providing adjacent its lower side an overflow lip 90. Slidably fitting a central aperture in the bottom wall 9| of the bucket is an overflow tube 92, which has its overflow edge 93 a substantial distance above the liquid level b in the receptacle 10, said level being maintained by a float 55, thearm 96 of which is pivoted on a pin 9'! supported by a bracket 98, the end of the arm remote from the float bearing on the head of a valve 99 which controls the admission of the liquid to the receptacle l0, supplied from a suitable source (not shown) through a tube I00. The valve is lifted from its seat by a spring |0| that surrounds the valve and is interposed between the head of the valve and the top of a guide H32 in which the valve reciprocates.

Applicable to both forms of the invention above described, but illustrated only in conjunction with the first form as it appears in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are connections between the liquid dispensing device or means and the burner that include a flow retarder, the function of which is to render substantially continuous or constant the flow of liquid fuel to the burner for pilot fire pur poses.

In Fig. 1, the burner is designated I55, the same being indicated as a burner of the pot or bowl type, and only a fragment of which is shown. Fuel is supplied to the burner through a conduit I06, to the end of which remote from the burner is connected a, tubular fitting I111. The fitting is reduced in diameter at one end to provide a radial shoulder Hi8 and an adjacent cylindrical part formed with a circumferential groove I09. Ports 0 establish communicationbetween said groove and the bore of the fitting. The reduced end of the fitting beyond said cylindrical part is threaded for the application of a cap H2.

15 designates a flow retarder in the form of a coil of tubing of relatively small diameter, the inlet end of which has connection with the previously :mentioned zcbnduit all. The outlet: end of I positionsisaid'rchamberiextendsab'oversaid over- :the I coil;:extends;radially through an "annular ifiowaedge; a support, a structurepivotallyiconmemberor ring 'lil'l that encircles the :reduced nected to said supporti'forswingingmovement'on cylindrical part of the fitting-1:01 .andjs clamped a.isubstantially .horizontal;axis, a screw providing againstitheshoulder lll8'bythe .capzH'Z. Thus, an adjustment "between-the -support'and strucmmunicatiVe connections are :made between "ture zandkby one of which said'screw is sustained the conduits I1 and 106. By reasonof-thertflaforrota'ryuand non-reciprocatorymovement and tivelygsmall diameter of the tubing-comprising V rwithiathe rather of which; it has threaded connectheretarder Ii;5,-together--with"the lengthfand -rtion'whereby,::uponthe'turningof,saidscrewfihe disposition 'ofithe same,:the liquid that :is inter- 'nystructureisiswung in:a.vertical direction with're- Zvm y d ch d f omlthe bucket :lfl'into the -spect'tothe Supportunitary driving mechanism outlet::tub e l5 is zheld :back 'or retarded tin-i s inclirdingra prime movermounted on said strucflow tosuch an extent that the discharge of the ture "for reciprocating the .transfer means, and

same: into; the burner. is substantially" continuous operative connections between said mechanism For constant, avoiding, during Operation of the and-the transfer .me'ans an'd by which the transipilotrfire, =what-would otherwise be anoticeably fer means is. supported.

fluctuating flame. '3. For useiin liquid idispensingimeans includ- "ASJW ZHYIbG understoodiby those familiar with ;ing;:a-':barrier having an overflow :edgedefining liquid fuel burning apparatus of the class herethe :outlet of said means, .and liquid transfer in referred to, fuel for'high-fire purposes is usu- 'means in sliding .contact with "the barrier-and rallyvdelivered to the burner through the same havinga liquidcham'ber of w'hi'ch said barrier conduit as that which supplies fuel for pilotfire constitutes a wallflthe transfer meansbeing' repurposes. Such an arrangement, in practice, is ciprocable between-a l-ow' liquid receiving position desirably "employed with-the present invention, 'andia highliquididischargingpositionin' the lat but-:since the inventionisconcerned only with 2 'ter of'whichxpositionssaid'chamber'extendsabove the feedingof fuel forpilot fire, I have omitted said ;oveiiflow"edge; .a :support, a structurepivotthe means for supplying the" burner with fuel for ally connected to saidsupportfor swinging movehigherfire. An arrangement for the latter purrment -onrat-substantially horizontaliaxis, the'sup- .po-semayifollow for, example, that disclosed-in portpandsaid structure having ap'erturesin verthe above mentioned Patent 2,247,689 wherein tical axial alignment, a screw freely rotatable the thermostatically actuated valves that control within the aperture of the support and threadedthe fuel feed for high fire purposes are built into 1y engaged within the aperture of a structure the float chamber, which corresponds substanwhereby the turning of said screw adjusts the tially to the receptacle l (or 10) of the present structure in a vertical direction, unitary driving case. In a construction wherein the high fire mechanism including a prime mover mounted on valve is enclosed in the same receptacle with the said structure for reciprocating the transfer bucket feed which supplies fuel for pilot fire purmeans, and operative connections between said poses, the flow retarder I I5 may be situated inmechanism and the transfer means and by which side the receptacle with its inlet end communisaid means is supported.

eating with the outlet tube .of the bucket feed 4. For use in liquid dispensin means including (tube l5 of Fig. 1, for example) and its opposite a barrier having an overflow edge defining the end with the outlet side of the high fire valve, outlet of said means, and liquid transfer means from which point on the fuel conveying means in sliding contact with the barrier and having a serves to deliver the fuel for both pilot and high liquid chamber of which said barrier constitutes fire. Obviously, in such a case, the outlettube a wall, the transfer means being reciprocable beof the bucket feed would terminate adjacent the tween a low liquid receiving position and a high bottom of the receptacle and be closed below its liquid discharging position in the latter of which point of communication with the retarder. positions said chamber extends above said over- Having thus described my invention, what I flow edge; a support, a bracket slidable vertically claim is: on the support, adjusting means for varying the 1. For use in liquid dispensing means includ-v elevation of the bracket with respect to the sllp ing a barrier having an overflow edge defining port, unitary driving mechanism including a the outlet of said means, and liquid transfer prime mover mounted on said bracket for recipmeans in sliding contact with the barrier and rocatin the transfer means, and operative conhaving a liquid chamber of which said barrier 55 nections between said mechanism and the transconstitutes a wall, the transfer means being refer means and by which the transfer means is ciprocable between a low liquid receiving position supported.

and a high liqu d d sc g position in the, 5. For use in liquid dispensing means including latter of which positions said chamber extends a barrier having an overflow edge defining the above said ov rflow e e; a s ppor a s ruc r so outlet of said means, and liquid transfer means in v y sustained y said s pp rt f r v r ical sliding contact with the barrier and having a djustment, mechanism mounted on said strucliquid chamber of which said barrier constitutes ture and including a drivin member having unia wall, the transfer means being reciprocable beform travel for reciprocating the transfer means, tween a low liquid receiving position and a high and operative connections between said member 85 liquid discharging position in the latter of which and the transfer means and by which the transpositions said chamber extends above said overf means s Supported flow edge; a support, a bracket slidable vertically 2. For use in liquid dispensing means including thereon, a spring tending to elevate the bracket, a barrier having an overflow edge defining the an adjustin screw having threaded engagement outlet of said means, and liquid transfer means with the support and bearing upon an abutment in sliding contact with the barrier and having a portion of the bracket and by which the bracket liquid chamber of which said barrier constitutes may be depressed and held in depressed position. a wall, the transfer means being reciprocable bein opposition to said spring, unitary driving tween a low liquid receiving position and a high mechanism includin a prime mover mounted on liquid discharging position in the latter of which said bracket for reciprocating the transfer means,

'7 and operative connections between said-mechanism and the'transfer means and by which the transfer means issupported, 6. For use in liquid dispensin meansincluding a vertically arranged tube having an overflow edge defining the outlet of said means, and a bucket surrounding and slidable-on said tube, the bucket being provided with a rodwhich rises from'the r: bucket substantially in axial aligmnent with the tube; a guide through which said rod is'reciprocable and by which it is maintained vertical, a

- support adjacent said. guide, a structure sustained by. the support abovethe guide, means for adjusting the structure vertically of the support,

driving mechanism mounted on said structure for reciprocating the bucket, said mechanism including a crank action, and operative connections bestantiall'y smaller cross sectional 'area than the remainder of said means, an annular member to which one end of the coil is connected so that the coil communicates with the interior of said member, a fitting'incorporated in the conveying means, said fitting having an end reduced to provide'a substantially radial shoulder, and a cylindrical part adjacent said shoulder, the fitting being threaded beyond said cylindrical part, said annular-member encircling said cyindrical part, and means engaged with the threaded portion of the fitting .to clamp said member againstthe shoulder, said member and the cylindrical part of the'fittin being shaped to provide a circumferential channel, the fitting having a bore and a port through which the bore and said channel communicate.

HOLDEN B. TOWNLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,050,339 Cassidy Jan. 14, 1913 2,030,951 Winton Feb. 18, 1936 2,231,694 Stevens Feb; 11, 1941 2,247,689

Kirkpatrick July 1, 1941 

